Antijamming attachment for typewriters



Nov. 14, 1950 w. A. GOOCH 2,529,604

ANTIJAMMING ATTACHMENT FOR TYPEWRITERS Filed June 15, 1948 Z4 I HIIIIIIIIIIW INVENTOR. WILLIAM 4. 6006/1 Patented Nov. 14, 1950 OFFICE ANTIJAMMING ATTACHMENT FOR TYPEWRITERS William A. Gooch, Istrouma, La.

Application June 15, 1948, Serial No. 33,170

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in typewriters, and more particularly to an anti-jamming attachment applicable to a conventional typewriter or similar key-operated machine.

When a typewriter is used, and especially when used by other than highly skilled operators, it frequently happens that two adjacent keys will be depressed at the same time, thereby elevating two type bars simultaneously and causing the outer or distal ends of the type bars to bind together or jam adjacent the ribbon guide. This not only causes delay while the bars are being freed and returned to their normal positions, and errors in the type copy, but frequently bends the type bars out of alignment so that frequent adjustment and repair of the typewriter is necessary.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide an improved anti-jamming attachment for typewriters, which attachment can be quickly and easily applied to and removed from a conventional typewriter or similar key-operated machine, is effective when applied to preclude misplacement of the fingers onthe keyboard and consequent accidental depression of two or more keys at the same time by the same finger adjustable to conform to variations in the keyboards of typewriters of different manufacture, is simple, durable and inexpensive in construction, and neat and attractive in appearance.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure l is a front elevation of a conventional typewriter, showing an anti-jamming attachment illustrative of the invention applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a transverse cross-section of a fragmentary portion ofthe typewriter and of the antijamming attachment illustrated in Figure 1, taken substantially in the plane of the section line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan View on an enlarged scale of a fragmentary portion of the improved antijamming attachment; and

Figure 4 is a front elevation of a fragmentary portion of the improved anti-jamming attachment.

With continued reference to the drawing, Figure 1 illustrates a typewriter having the usual frame It], platen H, carriage I2, ribbon l3 and ribbon guide I4, and keys I5 operatively mounted in a keyboard surrounded by a portion l5 of the typewriter frame.

The keyboard is somewhat elongated transversely of the typewriter, and the keys are arranged in rows extending longitudinally of the keyboard and also in rows extending transversely of the keyboard, or from the top to the bottom thereof and somewhat inclined relative to the sides of the frame at the top and bottom of the keyboard. In addition to the keys l5, the keyboard includes a spacer bar I! disposed at the bottom of the keyboard in the conventional manner. As this spacer member is an elongated bar and is not associated with the keys H3, in a manner to cause interference with the operation of the keys, it is not necessary to protect the spacer bar with the improved anti-jamming attachment.

The improved anti-jamming attachment is generally indicated at l8 and comprises a pair of substantially parallel side members [9 and 29 and a pair of substantially parallel end members 2| substantially perpendicular to the side members. The side members l9 and 20 are substantially longer than the end members. 2| and are provided in their upper edges with notches 22 which are substantially uniformly spaced apart lengthwise of these frame side members. The upper side member 19 is preferably straight, while the lower side member 26 is bent inwardly near its ends, as indicated at 23, so that the intermediate portion thereof lies between the spacing bar I! and the bottom transverse row of keys 15 when the attachment is mounted in operative position on a typewriter, as illustrated in Figure 1.

Elongated, U-shaped clips 24 are secured to the frame end members 21 in inverted position to receive the end portions of the keyboard-surrounding typewriter frame. Clamping screws 25 extend through the clips 24 to releasably secure the attachment IS in operative position on the typewriter. These screws may be provided with conventional wing nuts 26, as illustrated in detail in Figure 4.

A plurality of separator bars 21 extend between the frame side members I9 and 20 of the antijamming attachment l8 and are so spaced that one separator bar lies between each two adjacent rows of keys l5 extending between the top and bottom of the keyboard. The separator bars 2! are preferably of rectangular cross-section and relatively thin so that they will fit between the adjacent rows of keys without interfering with the operation of the keys and have ceived in corresponding notches 22 in the frame side members [9 and 20. A pair of thin nuts 29 are threaded on each reduced end portion 28 of the separator bars and positioned one at each side of the corresponding side frame member I9 or 20 to secure the separator bars in adjusted position in the attachment frame.

Each separator bar 21 is provided between its ends with slight lateral bends, as indicated at 3:; and 3! in Figure 3, so that the bars fit accurately between the adjacent transverse, inclined rows of keys, and the bars are also disposed at an angle to the frame side members l9 and 20 corresponding to the inclination of the transverse key rows to the typewriter frame portions at the top and bottom of the keyboard.

When the attachment is secured in operative position on a typewriter, the separator bars 2'! lie between adjacent transverse rows of keys and have their upper edges disposed just below the key tabs so that they do not interfere in any way with normal operation of the typewriter keys. The positioning of these bars is critical, since their upper edges must be high enough to prevent the misplacement of the fingers on the keyboard and consequent raising of two or more type bars at the same time to a position at which such type bars come together and bind, and yet must be low enough not to interfere with normal operation of the keys. These requirements are found to be satisfied by so positioning the separator bars that their upper edges are just below the upper surfaces of the finger tabs of the keys, as indicated above.

The attachment may conveniently be formed of suitable metal, such as steel, aluminum or brass, but may, if desired, be formed of other materials, such as wood or synthetic resin plastic. The use of metal, however, is recommended, since its high strength permits forming the frame members and separator bars of very thin section with high strength and light weight, so that the attachment can be quickly attached and detached from a typewriter when desired, accurately fits the typewriter frame and between the rows of typewriter keys, and is rigid and durable and light in weight.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. ent embodiment is, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing The presdescription, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are, therefore, intended to be embraced therein.

I claim:

1. An anti-jamming attachment for typewriters comprising a generally rectangular frame adapted to fit within the frame portion surrounding a typewriter keyboard, said attachment frame having longitudinally-spaced notches in the side members thereof disposed at the top and bottom of the typewriter keyboard, and U-shaped clips on the end members thereof adapted to fit over the typewriter frame portions at the ends of the keyboard, clamping screws carried by said clips to secure said attachment in operative position on the typewriter frame, separator bars extending between the attachment frame side members and spaced to lie one between each two adjacent rows of typewriter keys extending transversely of the typewriter keyboard between the top and bottom thereof, said bars having reduced, screw-threaded end portions extending through corresponding notches in the attachment frame side members, and nuts threaded-onto the reduced end portions of said separator bars to secure said bars in adjusted position in said attachment frame.

2. An anti-jamming attachment for a typewriter comprising a generally rectangular frame having end members and side members, means on said end members for releasably securing said attachment in operative positionon a typewriter, and a plurality of separator bars extending between said side members and secured attheir ends to said frame side members, said separator bars being inclined relative to said frame side members and positioned one between each two adjacent rows of typewriter keys extending between the top and bottom of a typewriter keyboard and immediately below the key tabs when said attachment is secured in operative position on a typewriter.

WILLIAM A. GOOCH.

REFERENCES. CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Numher Name Date 903,031 Diaz Nov. 3, 1908 1,001,482 Vidal Aug. 22, 1911 1,440,942 Stowell 1 Jan. 2, 1923 

